Is buying a mattress online a good idea?

Buying a mattress online is loaded with pitfalls.

The first problem with buying a mattress online is that you can’t try it out before you take it home. Most people when they come into my showroom don’t purchase the first one they try. I always encourage everyone to try at least 4 or 5 different models. That way you can really fine tune exactly what you like. (A mattress might sound good on paper and when describing however that does not equate to it working for everyone). Everyone has a different preference when it comes to which mattress they prefer).

Be aware that: Most of these online mattress companies post or pay for their own reviews. Also they will paint a pretty good picture of how great that mattress is.

I often do sell a mattress to a customer and deliver it sight unseen. When this happens I provide them with plenty of information about the mattress. This works when someone is getting a lower priced mattress. That means that the queen or full mattress and box set is priced below $500. (I know that our quality is the best they will find at these low prices). This does not usually work online however because people online are usually shopping for the better quality mattresses. That are those in the $500 to $1000 price range. (If a customer is in that higher price range I will insist on them coming to try them out. That is the only way to buy the right mattress).

One of the main problems that these online mattress companies face is shipping costs. That is one of the reasons they cannot compete with a discount mattress store like mine. Every week I receive a truckload of mattresses shipped directly from our manufacturer in Georgia. The fact that I can pay shipping for these all at the same time makes it economical. (The costs is spread evenly for every mattress). When an online company ships a mattress the first thing they have to do is make that mattress light enough for low costs shipping. It’s this light weight focus that takes away from the quality. You could not ship our mattresses because they are so solid, dense and heavy. It takes two people to move our better queen mattresses. (When you make a mattress light weight for shipping, you lose density which is what makes a good mattress.

Sure these mattresses are vacuum packed for easy shipping. That vacuum packing however causes even more loss of integrity. These online mattress shipping companies are taking low density polyurethane foam and compressing it for shipping. Meanwhile they are bragging on how great they are. Sure they have a guarantee that if you don’t like it they will take it back. Try shipping it back when it’s expanded and that time comes! A few of these companies will tell you to donate your mattress to charity and they will give you your money back. The problem with this is that unfortunately there are unscrupulous people who will get the mattress and get their money back while keeping the mattress. That is why most of that type of online mattress company does not stay in business long.

Then you have to factor in the fact that those companies just spent big dollars trying to gain your attention and get that sell. The only way they can pay for all that advertising is by adding it to the cost of your mattress.

Why take a chance when it comes to that most important decision? If you are lucky enough to live in the Charleston South Carolina area, your best option is to visit our showroom. When you compare our quality and prices, we can’t be beat!